Two days after the end of the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi and his family returned to Argentina. Heading back to his hometown of Rosario wasn’t how he’d imagined it. Unlike the last tournament, this time their arrival was marked by the shadow of defeat against Spain in one of the most highly anticipated finals.
Argentina’s No. 10 chose to travel in the early hours, without crowds or celebrations, opting for a discreet trip home, with only a few fans nearby hoping to thank him for everything he gave on the field, though they never got the chance to greet him.
© ZUMA Press, Inc.Around 6:30 a.m. local time, Lionel and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, landed in Argentina with their sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, who had been in the stands cheering on their dad in his “last dance.” Messi did not fly back to Argentina with the rest of the team, which on Monday afternoon was welcomed at the airport by a huge crowd of fans applauding their arrival, many wearing the albiceleste jerseys and chanting for every member of the squad.
© IG: @antonelaroccuzzoThat night, he got into an SUV with dark-tinted windows that made it impossible to see inside, and headed from the airport to his home in the exclusive town of Fisherton. Messi and his inner circle will stay in Argentina for a few days, where he’ll enjoy a vacation with his wife, kids, and parents before returning to training with Inter Miami. The visit is also a chance to spend time with his father, Jorge, who was hospitalized just over a month ago, right as the World Cup was kicking off. Fortunately, he was discharged, but he was not in the stands and instead supported his son and the team from home.
© Marcelo EndelliLionel Messi’s message after taking second place at the 2026 World Cup
On Sunday afternoon, after the final whistle blew and Spain was crowned champion, Lionel Messi took a few moments to look around New Jersey Stadium in New York, packed with Argentine and Spanish fans. The captain sat down on the grass, fighting back tears and locking in his memory the image of his final World Cup match, shutting out much of what was happening around him. After receiving his silver medal, he couldn’t hold back anymore and tears streamed down his cheeks.
© Hector Vivas - FIFAIt took Messi almost 24 hours to put those emotions into words. Before flying back to Argentina, he processed what had happened the night before and posted his first message after the final: “The pain is immense and it’s going to take a lot for this wound to heal. But I’m also left with all the good things… With the games we turned around by giving everything, which will forever remain in our memories; with the support of an entire country that, together with the work and effort of this group, helped us once again be among the best in the world.” He went on: “Right now it’s hard to appreciate what we’ve achieved, but this group has reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”
© AFP via Getty ImagesFor his devoted fans, he added, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again we managed to come together as a country and be united, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.” And he concluded: “I also want to congratulate Spain on the championship.”
Shortly after his post, Antonela Roccuzzo shared a message for her husband, “You will always be the best. Not just because of your talent, but because you never stopped being yourself. Because no matter what happens, you never give up, you always fight until the end and give your all until the very last second. That strength, that mentality, and that way you get back up again and again are what make you unique. 🤍” She added: “I admire you more than words can express, and I’m incredibly proud to walk through life by your side. I love you so much 🤍.”
© @antonelaroccuzzo
